EA Abolishes Its Online Pass System

You read that right, EA has confirmed to GamesBeat that none of its games moving forward will contain an online pass.

Here’s EA senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg:

Yes, we’re discontinuing Online Pass. None of our new EA titles will include that feature.

Games like Battlefield 3, Madden NFL and other big EA titles all employed the online system – and still do, but EA’s upcoming titles won’t block gamers who purchased used games to play online.

Reseburg added:

Initially launched as an effort to package a full menu of online content and services, many players didn’t respond to the format. We’ve listened to the feedback and decided to do away with it moving forward.

While some publishers saw an opportunity to recoup lost revenues otherwise garnered by the second-hand market by implementing the online pass system, most times costing gamers $10, big players like Activision has never ventured in that direction with its Call of Duty franchise, and as a result has maintained its number one position in the industry because gamers are allowed to play their games without worrying about an extra fee. EA, it seems, is adopting the same model.

Reseburg continued:

We’re still committed to creating content and services that enhance the game experience well beyond the day you first start playing.

Good news? Definitely. Good news coming from EA in regards to the consumer? Yeah, things are getting better.